Two days of intermittent Sydney rain and poor visibility at the Sydney Cricket Ground may have played spoilsport but couldn't prevent the inevitable as Virat Kohli's men brought an end to a 71-year wait on a not-so-manic Monday Down Under.

Despite enforcing a historic follow on – the first time in 31 years by a touring side on the Australian soil – the Indians had an agonizing two-day-long wait after turning the screw on the Kangaroos in the fourth and final Test. The tourists were looking well poised to make it 3-1 before the weather delayed the fulfillment of a dream.

On the decisive final day in the New South Wales capital, there wasn't enough sunshine to clear the gloom looming large over the iconic "coat hanger" – the harbor bridge – and John Utzon-designed shells-shaped architectural marvel, the Opera House, but India's historic Boxing Day Test win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) a week ago came as a silver-lining and ushered in a new dawn for Indian cricket. The seven-decade-long jinx was finally broken as captain Kohli cut the "Gordian Knot" that remained untearable for 12 Indian captains before him.

"Just one word to say – 'proud' – to lead this team and it's an honor and privilege. The boys make the captain look good. By far, this is my biggest achievement. It's at the top of the pile," the jubilant Indian captain remarked in the post-match presentation after conquering the "final frontier."

India had won the first Test of the series in Adelaide but lost the next in Perth before emphatically wrapping up the MCG Test to take a 2-1 lead. This drawn game at the SCG, which turned out to be a lopsided one in India's favor until the rain intervention, denied a seemingly imminent victory to the gung-ho side but the eventual series victory was colossal as no Asian team before this touring side was able to beat Australia in their own backyard.

"This win will give us a different identity as an Indian team and can inspire kids to do the same for the country going forward," Kohli added.

Along with Kohli's trademark gumption, the "grit" of India's new "renaissance man" Cheteshwar Pujara was instrumental in India's first-ever series victory in Australia since their maiden tour against Don Bradman's side in 1947-48. A rock-solid Pujara, who top scored in Sydney with 193 to earn the Player-of-the-Match award, also finished the series as the highest run-scorer, making 521 runs in seven innings at an average of 74.42.

With this groundbreaking series win, South Africa remains the only Test-playing nation where India have never won a Test series. India will now play three one day international matches against Australia to wrap up a milestone-setting tour.